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Friday, January 29, 2010

Packing List

I'm sure you're wondering what I'll be packing for a 14-month trip, and more importantly, how I'm going to fit it into one backpack and a daypack! I've spent countless hours researching travel forums online for advice, visiting outdoor stores all over central Florida, and placing orders online for things I couldn't find in stores. After a hectic 5 weeks of planning, preparing, buying, and trying to get Wal-Mart to actually do my malaria medication prescription correctly, this is what I've finally decided to pack:

Click on the image to view a larger version.

How I was able to actually fit all that in my pack I have no idea. But hopefully I'll remember on the trip, because I'll have to unpack and repack that bag hundreds of times! One of the big problems I ran into was the fact that I'm camping in remote parts of Africa, which necessitated gear (sleeping bag, self-inflating mattress, extra first aid stuff) that I wouldn't normally bring if I was just going through Europe or Southeast Asia. I'm sure I'll send a bunch of gear home from Johannesburg at the end of May - that should significantly lighten my load for the rest of the trip. Another problem was the fact that my photography equipment takes up half of my pack and probably more than half of the total weight. But, since that's the main purpose of this trip, I suppose I'll just have to suffer! If you're wondering, the total weight of my main pack is 31 pounds, and my day pack weighs 14 pounds, for a grand total of 45 pounds. I would have loved to go lighter, but I guess it's not too bad for a 14-month photography-intensive trip. Here's the complete gear list:

Haha, no, but they dry really quickly so I can wash often. And they're anti-microbial and all that high tech stuff, so I can wear them a few times without washing if I have to. Hey, I'll be dealing with worse things than dirty underwear when camping in Africa!

I kept pretty good track of my expenses for the trip, and it ended up averaging $92 per day. That includes flights, vaccinations, meals, lodging, and all activities. I didn't include souvenirs because that can vary so much depending on the person. That cost could go up or down depending on what countries you travel to. I never spent more than $5 for a private room in a hostel in Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam. But I struggled in pricey Australia, where I slept in a campervan and often made sandwiches to cut down on costs.While I traveled on a tight budget, I could have definitely done the trip for less than $92 per day if I never splurged on nice meals or expensive activities. I could have traveled for longer on the amount of money I had saved up, but I wanted to enjoy the trip too. You have to strike a balance between your budget and how many amazing experiences you want to have.If you really want to travel for a year or more, then you just have to make it a priority in your life. Travel is my biggest passion, so I always save my money for that instead of spending it on other stuff. If you really want to do it, you can make it happen.